PO Mechanical PhilosopJuj. [Chap. I, 



doi]i, Madison, Page, Patterson, Ellicott, Willard, 

 and several others*, who, if they have not made 

 splendid discoveries, or great additions to astro- 

 nomical science, have yet published useful obser- 

 vations, and contributed to promote that degree 

 of taste for this branch of philosophy which exists 

 in our country. 



From the foregoing review, it appears, that aK. 

 most every i>art of mechanical philosophy, during 

 the eighteenth century, has undergone great and 

 radical improvements ; and that the path is evi- 

 dently marked out to still greater and mare in- 

 teresting attainments. In Electricity^ GalvanisWy 

 Pneiunatics, Optics, and Astronomy, the additions 

 to our knowledge," during this period, are pre- 

 eminently conspicuous. For much of this pro- 

 gress we are indebted to accident ; but our obliga- 

 tions are also great to the genius and industry of 

 individuals, and the labours and publications of 

 many learned societies, who have with honourable 

 zeal and perseverance encouraged experiments and 

 enterprises of discovery, and collected and made 

 known a multitude of important focts. It is also 



revolution, lieutenant-governor of the province of New- York. 

 Whatever may be thought of some of the opinions exhibited in 

 these publications, they display genius, learning, andj, for the 

 country in which they v/ere written, an unusual taste for mathe- 

 mntical and astronomical incjuiries. 



•* I'he specimens which have been given to the public of th© 

 astronomical learning and skill of most of tlie gentlemen men» 

 tioned above, and of some other Americans, may be found in the 

 volumes of Transact icnis which have been published by the AmerU 

 can Philoscphkal Society, and in the Memoirs of the American 

 Acadtnvj of Arts and Sciences. 



